A Taste of Chaoshan: Endless Culinary Delights

Hello and welcome to Jieyang. At 1pm, we’ll gather at the hotel for a relaxed welcome meeting — a chance to meet your fellow travellers and get a taste of what the days ahead have in store. Afterwards, we kick things off at Jieyang Confucian Temple, the largest surviving Confucian temple complex in the Lingnan region. Its grand layout and intricate wood and stone carvings embody the dignity and refinement of Confucian tradition. Just next door stands the Jieyang Chenghuang Temple — one of Guangdong’s oldest and best-preserved City God temples. Incense curls through the air year-round, offering a vivid glimpse into the deep-rooted folk beliefs of the Chaoshan region. As night falls, we dive into the buzz of Rongcheng Night Market to sample a spread of Chaoshan flavours. The must-try is Longjiang pork knuckle rice — a dish that’s gone nationwide, and one that was born right here in Jieyang. Soft, sticky rice topped with melt-in-your-mouth pork delivers pure, comforting satisfaction. Just when you think the day is winding down, Jieyang’s real late-night scene comes alive. At 10pm, we follow the locals to lively street-side eateries and gather around a bubbling pot of seafood claypot congee. Made with live seafood — prawns, crab, or fresh fish — it’s simmered to sweet, delicate perfection. Surrounded by steam, chatter, and clinking bowls, we sink into Chaoshan’s unmistakable supper culture, where the night is always young and the food never stops.

Ease into the day the local way, starting with a steaming bowl of guozhi from a humble street stall. Soft rice sheets made from fermented rice batter soak up a rich, savoury braising sauce, topped with braised egg, pork, or crunchy preserved radish. Simple, comforting, and deeply satisfying, it’s Jieyang’s most honest kind of good morning. The rest of the morning is yours to enjoy at your own pace. In the afternoon, we head to Shantou Small Park Historic District. By day, its weathered arcaded buildings whisper stories of a once-thriving treaty port. As night falls, warm lights wash over the Eurasian-style façades, transforming the streets into a dreamy blend of nostalgia and romance. Wander through the lanes, snack on refreshing licorice fruit, or stop by a time-honoured shop for a bowl of traditional sweet soup — letting old flavours linger on the palate. The real highlight comes after dark, when we sit down for a traditional Chaoshan night mi–style dinner. This is no ordinary supper, but a full-blown feast: platters of raw-marinated seafood (crab, prawns, blood clams), fragrant braised dishes, delicate fish rice, and an endless spread of cold plates laid out before you. Take a seat, order a bowl of warm, plain congee, and pair it with these bold, briny flavours. It’s Chaoshan cuisine at its most generous, lively, and unforgettable.

Today, we head into Chenghai. In the morning, we visit the Chen Cihong Residence, often hailed as the finest overseas Chinese mansion in Lingnan and nicknamed the “Little Forbidden City of Chaoshan.” This vast residential complex blends Chinese tradition with Western influence, reflecting the wealth and vision of late–Qing dynasty merchants who made their fortunes across Southeast Asia. Wandering through hundreds of rooms and interconnected corridors feels like stepping into a maze of time, where intricate grey sculptures, stained glass, and decorative tiles quietly tell stories of prosperity and ambition. At lunchtime, we sit down for a truly indulgent local experience — a lion-head goose feast. In Chenghai, the birthplace of this prized breed, the feast showcases the whole goose: from the richly flavoured head and silky liver to tender meat and braised feet. Slow-cooked in a master stock refined over generations, it’s a bold expression of Chaoshan cuisine at its most elevated. In the afternoon, we switch gears entirely and step into the heart of the so-called “world’s toy factory” at Bao’ao City. Here, the full toy-making ecosystem is on display — from creative design to precision manufacturing. It’s a fascinating look at how Chenghai’s ingenuity and industrial efficiency transform imagination into joy for children around the globe, and a vivid introduction to the modern commercial spirit that continues to shape Chaoshan today.

Today, we journey from Chenghai to the dazzling blues of Nan’ao Island. In the morning, we cross the spectacular Nan’ao Bridge, the island’s sole terrestrial gateway. Our arrival is celebrated with a pure seafood feast — live catches straight from the harbor are prepared simply, with blanching, steaming, or quick stir-fry, letting the ocean’s freshest sweetness bloom on the palate. After a satisfying meal, we set off for a clockwise island tour. First, we stop at the striking red-and-white Changshanwei Lighthouse, perfectly framed by the bridge behind it. Next, we arrive at Qing’ao Bay, often called the “Hawaii of the East.” Fine sand and crystal-clear water make it a natural playground on the South China Sea. On the shore stands the iconic Natural Gate, marking where the Tropic of Cancer passes, a place where geographical wonder meets poetic scenery. As golden light ripples across the sea at sunset, we bid farewell to the island and drive back to the mainland, heading straight to the millennium-old city of Chaozhou.

Today in Chaozhou, we immerse ourselves in history, architecture, and the pinnacle of local cuisine. In the morning, we cross Guangji Bridge, celebrated as one of China’s four great ancient bridges. More than just a bridge, it’s a testament to ingenuity: its unique “eighteen shuttle boats and twenty-four piers” design combines floating sections with stone spans, stretching across the Han River like a mighty dragon at rest. On the far side, we visit the Han Wen Gong Memorial, a serene temple built in honor of the Tang dynasty literary master Han Yu. Nestled against the hills and facing the river, it offers insight into how one man’s scholarship and moral guidance profoundly shaped Chaozhou’s culture and history. In the afternoon, the pace shifts to free exploration. We wander Paifang Street, where 23 Ming- and Qing-era stone archways stand in silent testimony to generations of Chaozhou elites. Without a set route or guide, you can meander at your own pace, pick up a local snack from a century-old shop, or step into Zaiyang Teahouse. Brew a pot of gongfu tea, let the gentle music fill the room, and enjoy a live Chaozhou opera performance — the singing, recitation, and gestures bring the language’s elegance and rhythm vividly to life. As night falls, we end the day with the ultimate local culinary experience: Chaozhou beef hotpot. At a locally revered restaurant, premium cuts — including neck, shoulder, and brisket — are cooked instantly in a clear broth and dipped into rich, aromatic satay sauce. Every bite delivers supreme tenderness and pure, meaty sweetness. This is more than a feast for the senses; it’s a tribute to the Chaoshan philosophy of “pursuing perfection in every dish.”

Today we head into the Phoenix Mountains for a deep dive into the heart of Chaoshan tea culture – where locals say a day without tea is unthinkable. Home to Phoenix Dancong, one of China’s four great oolong teas and often called the ‘perfume of tea’, this region is famed for naturally occurring floral aromas drawn from its mountain terroir. At lunchtime, enjoy a farm-to-table feast of tea-infused dishes at a tea mountain homestead: tea-scented chicken slowly braised in Dancong tea broth with tender, delicate meat, a fragrant tea-leaf omelette, and crispy prawns with a lingering tea finish – a true taste of the mountains. In the afternoon, walk through misty, eco-friendly tea gardens with a local tea farmer or tea master, getting hands-on with traditional techniques like tea picking, sun-withering and shaking. Visit a charcoal-roasting workshop to see how Dancong’s signature ‘mountain character’ is coaxed out over gentle heat. The day ends gathered in a tea farmer’s home, sipping freshly roasted tea while listening to stories of old tea trees, rare cultivars and life in the mountains.

Our journey officially ends here, but feel free to continue exploring Chaoshan at your own pace and complete your culinary adventure. If you’d like to extend your stay in Chaozhou, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.